If you are convicted of a sex offense in Larimer, Broomfield or Denver County such as Rape / Sexual Assault – C.R.S. 18-3-402 or Sexual Assault on a Child – C.R.S. 18-3-405, you will be required to register as a sex offender. This means that law enforcement agencies like the Fort Collins Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff, or Loveland Police Department will post information such as your name, address and a photograph online for the public to access and view. Why does our government require this? For public safety of course! But, is this law really effective? Does it do anything more than incite fear to the public?
Does Sex Offender Registration Really Keep us Safe in Larimer County?
The average person living in Fort Collins, Boulder or Loveland often accepts laws without thinking about their effectiveness or constitutionality if they are made in the name of “public safety.” The public also likes the idea that sex offenders are horrible people who should be punished more than other offenders. Colorado Legislature is adamant that sex offender registration is safer for the public. This is false. In fact, two recent studies show that the opposite is true.
- J.J. Prescott and Jonah E. Rockhoff, “Do Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws Affect Criminal Behavior?” Journal of Law and Economics 54:1
- Amanda Y. Agan, “Sex Offender Registries: Fear Without Function?” Journal of Law and Economics 54:1.
These two studies show that sex offender registration doesn’t deter someone from reoffending; instead they “find that registered offenders may actually be more likely” to reoffend when “subject to community notification.” (Amanda Y. Agan).
Unplanned Consequences of Sex Offender Notification and Registration
People who live in Larimer, Boulder and Broomfield County want to know when there is a sex offender in their neighborhood. What they don’t realize, is that there are a few unplanned consequences of sex offender registration:
– Reduced Home Value
Homes with a sex offender in the neighborhood may be more difficult to sell – they are worth about “$5,500 less than comparable homes farther away.” A person trying to sell their home often doesn’t realize it takes only a few minutes for a potential buyer to see that a sex offender lives in the same neighborhood and decide not to buy.
– Isolate the Offender
Sex offenders are often isolated by the people and community who could help them the most. Think of it this way – children are often bullied in school because they feel alone. They lash out in anger and frustration. Sex offenders need support, guidance and counsel to overcome their issues. They usually have spent time in prison or jail, and need help reintegrating into society. Because of public access to sex offender registration records, people cut sex offenders off from society and occasionally do them harm; I have seen registered sex offenders’ property trashed.
Other than the social stigma, sex offender registration and public notification does not aid public safety. Instead, it incites public fear, costs taxpayers large amounts of unnecessary money and can cause offenders to reoffend.